James is making chocolate chip cookies. Our new oven does a really, really nice job with cookies. Apparently his co-workers have requested chocolate chip cookies, and James is obliging.
I'll bring some into work tomorrow, too. I'm working at DePaul tomorrow, and am fairly excited about it. Getting myself (professionally dressed and groomed) and two kids out of the house, to day care, and to work on time is really not fun. However, I really enjoy working the occasional shift because a) I get to do something I really really love and b) I get to talk to adults. It's a nice break from being "Mommy" 24/7. And as a nice bonus, I make money!
I'm sort of in this "vocational limbo" where I'm deciding what to do for the next few years and for the long haul. Because I'm a provisional elder, I have eight years from the time I was commissioned to "fulfill the requirements for ordination and full membership." The requirements include: three years of full-time service (I currently have one year) and approval by the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (which involves papers, psychological testing, and interviews). Since it's common to be "continued" at least one time, I really should add in a year or two of insurance. Therefore, by July 2013 I need to be beginning my third year of full-time service in order to really have a good shot at being ordained by 2015. If I'm not ordained by 2015, my understanding is that I have to re-apply for provisional membership and begin the process all. over. again. Therefore, I'm weighing my options and figuring out how I can accomplish that...and if accomplishing that right now is what God wants me to do (and part of that includes what's in the best interest of my family). It's somewhat frustrating and painful, because part of me feels like if Danville-gate hadn't happened, I wouldn't be in this situation. But it did happen, and I am here, so...
Greg is so so so much better. I'm only giving him two breathing treatments a day now, and I'm hoping to only give him one tomorrow, one on Tuesday, and then be DONE.
I must go now, because I need to clean up the cookie mess and then go to bed. Toodles!
Showing posts with label Domestic pursuits. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Domestic pursuits. Show all posts
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Thursday, June 12, 2008
New skills are always good...
Since I am a stay-at-home mom until September 2, I have the wonderful privilege of cooking the bulk of our family meals. James is a much, much, better cook than me. He's really a natural at it, and usually makes Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. However, I'm the one at home during the day and with (supposedly) more time on my hands, so I've been given the fun task of cooking dinner. For the past two years, while things were so busy, my meal preparation involved a lot of packaged stuff and minimalist meals (slab of meat + canned vegetable = meal). Now that I have more time and less stress, I've resolved to work on my cooking skills.
So far, things are going well. Last week, I made some yummy pork chops in a cherry sauce with fresh green beans (cooked with onion in chicken broth). Tonight, I'm making chicken curry with basmati rice. I also experimented a little and discovered a way to make pot roast positively scrumptious (onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, and red potatoes). At some point I'm going to try and make craw fish or shrimp etouffee, because we're simply dying for some good Cajun food (I miss Joe's OK Bayou in Lexington!).
I've realized that I kind of enjoy cooking when I have the time and energy to plan and prepare a yummy meal. My new hero? Rachael Ray and her 30-Minute Meals. Granted, some of her ingredients are obscure/expensive, but there's a Harris Teeter around the corner, and it has virtually everything I need. I figure that with a few exceptions, it's cheaper to make a gourmet meal at home than buy it in a restaurant. The ingredients for tonight's chicken curry may have cost $30 to buy (that's including the big bag of chicken), but a) what I fix tonight will last us for two meals and b) the ingredients I bought should make another 3-4 batches of curry, easily. Definitely cheaper than buying the prepared product in a restaurant. At least I may have found one domestic task that I may wind up liking and being good at!
However, I wouldn't count on me ever saying that I like cleaning or ironing. Never, ever, ever.
So far, things are going well. Last week, I made some yummy pork chops in a cherry sauce with fresh green beans (cooked with onion in chicken broth). Tonight, I'm making chicken curry with basmati rice. I also experimented a little and discovered a way to make pot roast positively scrumptious (onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup, and red potatoes). At some point I'm going to try and make craw fish or shrimp etouffee, because we're simply dying for some good Cajun food (I miss Joe's OK Bayou in Lexington!).
I've realized that I kind of enjoy cooking when I have the time and energy to plan and prepare a yummy meal. My new hero? Rachael Ray and her 30-Minute Meals. Granted, some of her ingredients are obscure/expensive, but there's a Harris Teeter around the corner, and it has virtually everything I need. I figure that with a few exceptions, it's cheaper to make a gourmet meal at home than buy it in a restaurant. The ingredients for tonight's chicken curry may have cost $30 to buy (that's including the big bag of chicken), but a) what I fix tonight will last us for two meals and b) the ingredients I bought should make another 3-4 batches of curry, easily. Definitely cheaper than buying the prepared product in a restaurant. At least I may have found one domestic task that I may wind up liking and being good at!
However, I wouldn't count on me ever saying that I like cleaning or ironing. Never, ever, ever.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Patti-1, Icemaker-0
James and I are rapidly learning about the joys of home ownership. This is the second home we've owned, but the first was a brand-new townhouse, so there wasn't really a big worry about something breaking. Our new home is 14 years old, and pretty much everything (refrigerator, stove, roof, a/c unit) is original to the house. It all works fine now, but we're budgeting and planning for some major work in the next five years.
Anyway, our fridge is one of those side-by-side models that have an in-door ice dispenser. Very nice, especially for an ice addict like myself. There's a little problem; the icemaker is very slow. As in, it makes about five (5) cubes a day. I'm not exaggerating. It's been quite frustrating.
So, I figured out a solution. I made a few trays of ice cubes, and tossed the ice cubes into the ice storage bin. Voila! The ice tumbled oblingingly into my glass. I may have to be an ice-making machine for a few days, but hopefully we'll have an abundant supply of ice before long.
James spent this weekend working on our master bedroom closet. A few days after we moved in, half of our closet shelving fell down in the middle of the night. Apparently the previous owners (or the builder) hadn't placed the proper supports on it. Grr....Now half of our closet is redone, and we could probably swing from the rods and not have it collapse. The other half of the closet will be redone probably sometime this fall---after I've started work and have received a paycheck.
Anyway, our fridge is one of those side-by-side models that have an in-door ice dispenser. Very nice, especially for an ice addict like myself. There's a little problem; the icemaker is very slow. As in, it makes about five (5) cubes a day. I'm not exaggerating. It's been quite frustrating.
So, I figured out a solution. I made a few trays of ice cubes, and tossed the ice cubes into the ice storage bin. Voila! The ice tumbled oblingingly into my glass. I may have to be an ice-making machine for a few days, but hopefully we'll have an abundant supply of ice before long.
James spent this weekend working on our master bedroom closet. A few days after we moved in, half of our closet shelving fell down in the middle of the night. Apparently the previous owners (or the builder) hadn't placed the proper supports on it. Grr....Now half of our closet is redone, and we could probably swing from the rods and not have it collapse. The other half of the closet will be redone probably sometime this fall---after I've started work and have received a paycheck.
Friday, March 02, 2007
Selecting a nursery theme
First of all, I want to give a big SHOUT OUT to my friends Tamara and Michael, who will OFFICIALLY adopt their little girl, Mia Elizabeth, this afternoon. They attend our former church in Lexington, and were part of our small group. They're adopting through the foster care system, and it's been amazing to watch their journey and see how God has worked in their lives and in Mia's life to bring about this event. I am SO SO happy for them and Mia. She just doesn't know how good she has it!
In other news, now that I'm nearing the 14-week mark of pregnancy, James and I have begun talking about baby stuff. Specifically, we have begun discussing what we want the nursery to look like. We want to go with a gender-neutral theme, even though we're planning on finding out if Baby Money is a boy or a girl. I initially suggested an "under the sea" theme, which was rejected because we've done that before for our bathrooms. James wants an "outer space" theme with planets and such, but we can't find one that we like...they're all very light-colored. So then I suggested a penguin theme, and James liked that. Slight problem; we can't find ANY crib sets with that theme. I've Googled and I've tried Ebay, with no success. Grr...my other idea was a rainforest theme....same result.
Yes, I know that I could, technically, buy fabric and make Baby a crib set. However, I can't sew to save my life (I'm not just being modest; I really can't sew). And paying someone to sew something like that would probably be really, really expensive. We shall see...I think we'll head to Greensboro next weekend to look for nursery furniture, so maybe we'll find something then. Who knows??
In other news, now that I'm nearing the 14-week mark of pregnancy, James and I have begun talking about baby stuff. Specifically, we have begun discussing what we want the nursery to look like. We want to go with a gender-neutral theme, even though we're planning on finding out if Baby Money is a boy or a girl. I initially suggested an "under the sea" theme, which was rejected because we've done that before for our bathrooms. James wants an "outer space" theme with planets and such, but we can't find one that we like...they're all very light-colored. So then I suggested a penguin theme, and James liked that. Slight problem; we can't find ANY crib sets with that theme. I've Googled and I've tried Ebay, with no success. Grr...my other idea was a rainforest theme....same result.
Yes, I know that I could, technically, buy fabric and make Baby a crib set. However, I can't sew to save my life (I'm not just being modest; I really can't sew). And paying someone to sew something like that would probably be really, really expensive. We shall see...I think we'll head to Greensboro next weekend to look for nursery furniture, so maybe we'll find something then. Who knows??
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Apple Butter
James and I love apple butter. It's very yummy on biscuits or cinnamon raisin bagels. I've had a hard time finding apple butter here in Danville, though. The stores only have two varieties and it only comes in GIGANTIC jars. So I discovered a solution...
I can make my own apple butter!
I got some apples (fresh from the tree!) from a couple in my church, along with a recipe for homemade apple butter. I peeled, cored, and chopped about 12 apples. Then I put them in the crock pot, along with some sugar and a good measure of cinnamon and cloves. I also put in a smidgen of allspice and nutmeg, just for variety. I mixed it all up, put the crock pot on "low", and walked away. About twelve hours later I had a lovely concoction that is definitely apple butter. It's not the best apple butter I've ever tasted, but it's edible and fairly yummy. Maybe later this week I'll try to make a larger batch with the rest of the apples.
In other domestic news, I'm determined to have a garden next spring. We have an acre of land, so I might as well use some of it for a garden! I've started a compost pile in a far corner of the backyard. I'll keep adding to it, and hopefully we'll have some good fertilizer in six months or so!
I can make my own apple butter!
I got some apples (fresh from the tree!) from a couple in my church, along with a recipe for homemade apple butter. I peeled, cored, and chopped about 12 apples. Then I put them in the crock pot, along with some sugar and a good measure of cinnamon and cloves. I also put in a smidgen of allspice and nutmeg, just for variety. I mixed it all up, put the crock pot on "low", and walked away. About twelve hours later I had a lovely concoction that is definitely apple butter. It's not the best apple butter I've ever tasted, but it's edible and fairly yummy. Maybe later this week I'll try to make a larger batch with the rest of the apples.
In other domestic news, I'm determined to have a garden next spring. We have an acre of land, so I might as well use some of it for a garden! I've started a compost pile in a far corner of the backyard. I'll keep adding to it, and hopefully we'll have some good fertilizer in six months or so!
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